Transnet to lift Ngqura lockout so striking workers can return

TRANSNET said yesterday it would temporarily lift the lockout at Nelson Mandela Bay's Port of Ngqura to allow striking container terminal workers volunteering to abandon the Numsa-organised industrial action to return to work on humanitarian grounds.

The grace period started at 6am today and will end at 6am tomorrow.

Transnet vowed to reinstate the lockout on those who failed to return.

The company said it had received pleas from a significant number of the workers on strike to allow them to abandon the industrial action.

However, Numsa regional secretary Phumzile Nodongwe said it was not true that Numsa workers wanted to return to work and that the strike at Ngqura was still very active.

The only workers told to remain at work by Numsa were those mobilised to take part in a secondary strike at the Mediterranean Shipping Company, due to a Labour Court order obtained by the firm to avoid the secondary strike, he said.

"We need to respond to the interdict by Thursday [tomorrow] and in the interim the secondary strike workers should avoid being harassed by the employer and go to work," Nodongwe said.

It is the second attempt by Numsa to mobilise a secondary strike that had been thwarted by the court. The first attempt was to mobilise workers at the Port Elizabeth Harbour.

Transnet acting group chief executive Sharla Pillay said the company was aware of the devastating impact the strike had on the employees and their families, especially on their finances.

Transnet has applied the no-work, no-pay principle since the strike began seven weeks ago.

"In line with our commitment to being a caring employer and responsible citizen, management considered and agreed to the request from a group of our colleagues who wished to abandon the strike and return to work," Pillay said.

A significant number of the just more than 100 employees on strike had indicated they wanted to return, she said.

"To facilitate the reintegration of the strikers into the teams, Transnet has organised counselling sessions for those wishing to return, as well as those who are not on strike.

"None of the striking employees will return without going through a counselling session. This is essential given the violence and intimidation that characterises the Numsa strike," Pillay said.

On Friday, the Labour Court granted an interdict against Numsa restraining the union from the ongoing violence against non-striking employees' homes. More than 30 homes have been stoned, petrol-bombed and torched in Motherwell, Zwide, Kwazakhele and other Nelson Mandela Bay suburbs.

However, Nodongwe said Numsa members were not involved in the violent attacks and the interdict therefore did not affect the union. "These are all just allegations," Nodongwe said.

Transnet has offered a reward of R100000 for information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of the perpetrators. - Cindy Preller